Starting January 1st, 2016, Texas began allowing licensed gun owners to openly carry firearms in a holster, what many see as a victory for gun rights activists. However, the new law has also caused significant concern for police and businesses who want to ensure they know what their rights are too.
Kevin Lawrence, the executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association, summed up the matter:
"If a citizen calls in, a business calls in, and says there is someone here carrying a firearm that we're concerned about -- the question then becomes exactly how much authority does that officer have to approach that individual and investigate whether or not they have a license to carry that gun?"
Considering how combative some gun owners are about their Second Amendment Rights, this is a legitimate concern. Many of us have seen videos where a police officer approached someone regarding their publicly displayed weapon and had a peaceful, yet less than pleasant encounter with the gun owner. Of course, such individuals are the exception, rather than the norm, as most officers aren't attempting to restrict freedoms but rather ensure safety of fellow citizens.
Additionally, businesses are also on the firing line regarding the new law. According to one local business owner, Shane Peterson, "It's pretty tough. As a business owner, you alienate one group and they stop shopping with you. You alienate another group and they stop shopping with you, and it's a lose-lose." If a business bans open carry, they lose one set of customers. If they allow it, they lose a different group.
There were also questions as to how businesses can prevent open carry in their stores. The new law says that "businesses can bar open carry from their premises by posting a so-called 30.07 sign. The sign warns gun owners that anyone who openly carries a handgun at that location can be subject to criminal trespass charges," but this led in turn to more confusion. The Democratic party jumped in and started to "sell the signs after hearing business owners were confused about what the signs need to look like, according to spokesman Manny Garcia."
It will be interesting to see what precedents are set with the new open-carry law, gun rights, and the Second Amendment.
So what do you think about the situation? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
